Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-02-24
PART ".

| of whom only the Scant history was known
that he was Californian, and former CORE
spondent of her husband. 1t was undeniab,e
that the man was wealthy, and evidently no
mere adventurer; 1t was rumored that he was
courageous and manly; but even those who
delighted in his odd humor were shocked at
his grammar and slang. 1t was said that
Mr.. Marvin had but one interview with his
father-in-law elect, and returned SO su-
premely disguised that the match was broken
off. The horse stealing story, more OF less
garbled, found its way through lips that pre-
tended to decry it, yet eagerly repeated it.
Only one member Of the Rightbody family
and a new one-saved them from utter os-
tracism. 1t was young Mr.. Ryder, the
adopted son of the prospective head of the
household, whose culture, manners and gen.
eral elegance fascinated and thrilled Boston
with new sensation. 1t seemed to many
that Miss Alice should, in the vicinity of this
rare exotic, forget her former enthusiasm for
a professional life; but the young man was
pitied by society, and various plans for di-
verting him from any mesalliance with the
There must have been something in it. Joe,
believe me. Did you never hear your father
speak of mine:'
"Nevcr."
"But you say he was college bred, and born
gentleman, and in his youth he must have
had many friends"
"Alice," said the young man gravely, "when
l have done something to redeem my name
and wear it again before these people, before
yo,,, it would he we'll to revive the past. Bur
till then
But Alice was not to be put down. II re
member" she went on, scarcely needing him,
"that when I came in that night papa was
reading letter and seemed to be discon-
certed"
"a letter"
"Yes; but" added Alice, with sigh, @when
we found him here insensible, there was no
letter on his person. He must have destroyed
it."
"Did you ever look among his papers? If
found it might be clew"
The young man glanced toward the cabi-
net Alice read his eyes and answered:
ooh, dear, no! The cabinet contained only
his papers, all perfectly arranged-you know
how methodical were his habits-and some
old business and private letters, all carefully
put away"
"Let us see them," said the young man, ris-
ing.
They opened drawer after drawer; files
upon files of letters and business papers accu-
rately folded and filed. Suddenly Alice ut
tered a little cry and picked upa quaint ivory
paper knife lying at the bottom of drawer.
"It was missing the next day and never
could be found; he must have mislaid it here.
This is the drawer, said Alice eagerly
Here was clew. But the lower part of
the drawer was filed with old letters not Ia
beled yet neatly arranged in files. Suddenly
be stopped and said, "Put them back, Alice,
at once"
"Why?"
"Some of these letters are in my fathers
handwriting"
"The more reason why should see them,"
said the girl imperatively. Here, you take
part and I'll take part and we'll get through
quicker"
There was certain decision and independ-
ence in her manner which he had learned to
respect. He took the letters and in silence
read them with her. They were old college
letters, so filled with boyish dreams, ambi-
tions, aspirations, and Utopian theories, that
fear neither of these young people even
recognized their parents in the dead ashes of
the past. They were both grave, until Alice
uttered a little hysterical cry and dropped
her face in her hands. Joe was instantly be-
side her.
"Its nothing: Joe, nothing. Don't read it, |
please; please, don't. It's SO funny! it's SO
very queer!"